ENERGY PROJECT SITING & MILITARY BASES
HB 159 requires renewable energy developers (like wind or solar project owners) to notify New Mexico's Military Base Planning Commission Chair within 10 days when submitting projects to the Federal Aviation Administration for military clearance. It mandates providing project details upon submission and sharing the final military approval or adverse impact finding within 10 days of receiving it. This bill directly affects developers of energy projects near military bases by adding a state-level notification step to the federal military review process, effective July 1, 2025. The law does not change military review standards but ensures the state commission is informed of these projects.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 28, 2025
Signed Apr 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
introduced version
→
Final Version
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill requires developers or owners of renewable energy projects to notify the Military Base Planning Commission about construction plans submitted to the FAA. The notification timeline was extended from 10 days to 30 business days, and the required documentation was updated to reflect the FAA's review process terminology. The effective date was set to July 1, 2025.
Scope change
The bill applies to developers or owners of renewable energy projects (wind energy, solar collectors, or other facilities) that submit construction notices to the FAA.
TIMELINE
The deadline for notifying the Military Base Planning Commission was extended from 10 days to 30 business days.
The effective date of the act was established as July 1, 2025.
REQUIREMENT
The required documentation was updated to include either a military compatibility letter or a finding of unacceptable risk from the FAA's siting clearinghouse, replacing the previous approval or adverse impact finding language.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2025 · House Mar 17, 2025
How they voted
39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Mar 21, 2025
D
Democratic24
100% Yea
R
Republican16
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Apr 8, 2025
Signed into law
Signed
executive
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed Senate
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed House
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
Sent to House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee & House Labor, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee & House Judiciary Committee
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alan Martinez
RRepublican
P
DS
Debbie Sariñana
DDemocratic
P
Harold Pope
DDemocratic
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